At Home With… A/Prof Lionel Cheng, CEO (Designate), SCH
Most people meet a new CEO at town halls, meetings, or carefully timed introductions.
But when A/Prof Lionel Cheng – or simply Lionel, as he prefers – walks in, the first thing that stands out is not a title, but a T-shirt.
A Star Wars one.
“Clearly I’m a big Star Wars fan,” he laughs.
“Star Trek too, though the two camps don’t always get along.”
Science fiction has been one of his lifelong fascinations. He still remembers watching the first Star Wars film in primary school.
“Mind-blowing,” he recalls.
“That sense of wonder stuck with me.”
Those stories of exploration, hope, and stepping into the unknown may have shaped him more than he lets on.
A Creative Leap Into the Unknown
That same curiosity nudged him into another unexpected frontier earlier this year – becoming one of the contributors behind At The Heart, the original song performed in the SingHealth musical.
“I felt strongly that we needed a piece that captured what healthcare is about,” he says.
So he began scribbling lyrics, humming into his phone during weekend duties, and sending ideas to the musical team “with no expectation that anything would come of it.”
One audition (and more than 20 versions) later, the final song found its shape.
“The song wasn’t one person’s creation. It belonged to many,” he reflects.
“We hoped the words would resonate. During rehearsals, there were moments we had to hold back our emotions – there’s so much weight in what healthcare workers carry.”
Stepping Into the Biggest Frontier Yet
If musicals and science fiction opened doorways into new worlds, stepping into SCH as its third CEO may be Lionel’s biggest frontier yet. And he does not take it lightly.
“Margaret built the foundation – the pioneering culture, the spirit of SCH,” he says.
“Wee Hoe came in and elevated everything, from our new hospital to the level SCH operates at today. They’re giants.”
He pauses.
“It weighs heavily on me because there is an important mission to continue, and precious people in this organisation whom I want to grow alongside. It’s a mixture of apprehension, responsibility, and excitement.”
A Culture He Heard About Long Before He Joined
Before he became CEO (Designate), Lionel had already heard about SCH from colleagues, friends, and even relatives who had been admitted to community hospitals.
“Everyone said the same thing: SCH is warm, collegial, friendly. That family-like spirit – that’s our brand,” he recalls.
Twenty-one days in (or 14, he jokes, if you subtract the SingHealth musical week), that impression has only deepened.
“People are warm. The pace is exciting. I couldn’t be happier.”
What he looks forward to most, though, are not meetings or briefings.
“It’s when I get to spend time with people one-on-one, see their work up close, and immerse myself in what makes SCH special.”
His Hopes for SCH: Shine, Commitment, Heart
As he considers the future, Lionel distils his hopes for SCH into three simple words: Shine, Commitment, Heart.
Shine is about enabling staff to practise at the apex of their profession and contribute their unique strengths.
“You know that feeling when you come to work and feel like you’re offering something only you can bring? That’s what I hope everyone gets to experience.”
Commitment speaks to SCH’s clarity of mission – bridging care, building communities, and delivering person-centred care – but also the commitment we show to one another.
“That feeling of having each other’s backs. That bond is powerful. It carries us through the hard days.”
Heart, for Lionel, is the most precious.
“Everyone wants to feel valued. Appreciated. Some might even say loved. I hope SCH becomes a place where people feel that sense of belonging – that Home Away From Home feeling.”
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